Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page 973

MATTHEW LOWTH, farmer; Secs. 10 and 15; P.O. Columbus;
was born in County Meath, Ireland, May 6, 1819; when 7
years old, he, with his parents, Edward and Alice, nee
McCABE, emigrated to America; they settled in Aug.
1826, in the town of Tinmouth, Rutland Co., Vt., where
his mother died in the following December; his father
followed mining there for a number of years; after the
death of his mother, he and his brother were put out
to live with American families of Vermont, and with
them he made his home until 21 years of age; at the
age of 18 years, he entered upon a three years'
apprenticeship to the molder's trade, in the Granger
Stove Works, at Pittsford, Rutland Co.; he next came
to Albany, N.Y., where he worked at his trade awhile,
and later to Troy, N.Y., where he followed the same
for a time; he emigrated to Wisconsin in 1844, and
stopped a year with his cousin, John LOWTH, at Troy,
Walworth Co.; Nov. 9, 1845 he removed to his log house
in the town of Lowell, Dodge Co., Wis., where he made
his home until the fall of 1849; disposing of his
interest in Dodge Co. at that time, he entered a farm
of 120 acres, in the town of Columbus, Columbia Co.,
and returned to Troy, N.Y., and continued his trade at
Mechanicsville for two years; coming again to
Columbus, Wis., in 1851, he settled on his farm, which
has since been his home; he devoted the winter seasons
of the first eleven years after his permanent
settlement in Columbia Co., to teaching, and the
summers in farming.  Mr. LOWTH was elected Assessor of
the town or village of Columbus, in 1856; he served
three terms as Chairman of the Town Board, and in
1879, was elected a member of the Wisconsin Assembly,
from the Second Assembly District of Columbia Co.  He
was married in 1843, to Miss Mary GLAVIN, a native of
Cork, but an emigrant to America with parents, when
about 2 years old, and settled at Troy, N.Y., where
she was afterward married; their children are Edward,
Alice Francis, Catharine, Thomas H.; Josephine, now
the wife of Charles HALL, and lives at Spencer,
Marathon Co., Wis., and Emma, at home.

OLIVER RODNEY LUEY, farmer; Sec. 20; P.O. Columbus;
was born in Windsor Co., Vt., in 1824; he had the
advantage of the common school in his boyhood, where
he received his education; he devoted his attention to
farming in Vermont, until 1844, whence he emigrated to
Wisconsin; he found employment at farm work at Mr.
JAMES' in the town of Richmond, Rock Co., for two
summers; in November 1845, he came to the town of
Columbus, Columbia Co., bought a claim of 160 acres in
the southeast quarter, Sec. 20; and in February 1846,
he obtained a deed to 40 acres of it and pre-empted
the remainder; he at once built his pioneer log house,
at first only 16 x 16, but was afterward enlarged,
which was his home for fifteen years; his farm now
numbers 250 acres, and instead of his log house, a
commodious residence decorates his premises.  Mr. LUEY
has been a member of the Town Board for two or three
years.  He was married May 1848, to Miss Sarah,
daughter of Robert and Polly (BERRY) MILLER, a native
of Windham Co., Vt.; her mother died there in 1870;
her father came to Wisconsin in 1876, and now makes
his home at Mr. LUEY's.  Mr. and Mrs. LUEY have five
children, as follows: Charlotte, now the wife of Frank
HOPKINS lives at Gary, Dakota; Edwin, now at
Rochester, Minn.; Cheney O., Walter R., and Cornelia,
at home.

Submitted by Carol